Objectives: The objectives of this study was to evaluate whether external fixation of the pertrochanteric fractures of the femur, could reduce the pre and postoperative hospital length of stay, with low complications and mortality and with satisfactory functional results to achieve rehabilitation and incorporation into the daily life in high-risk patients.

Patients and Methods: We treated 26 patients who had pertrochanteric fractures with the Orthofix Pertrochanteric Fixator. There were 14 male and 12 female with a mean age of 73 years. The fractures were classified according to the modified Evans classification. 19 were unstable and 7 were stable. Patients were evaluated on the day the fixators were removed according to the Foster criteria. All data was evaluated retrospectively.

Results: The mean operative time was 24 minutes. Hospitalization was 12.7 days on avarage. The average union time of our 16 patients who were alive and whose fixators could be removed were 5.2 months. Stable fractures healed at aproximately 4.1 months while unstable fractures healed at 5.9 months. Five patients developed superficial pin tract infection and one developed deep infection. During the 12-month follow-up period ten patients died from causes unrelated to the operation. Mortality rates of the 26 patients 23.07% within the first 30 days and 42.3% within 1 year.

Conclusion:According to our results we concluded that the use of external fixation for the management of pertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients of poor health is a valuable and valid surgical method.